Kathy Bates won an Oscar in 1991 for her outstanding performance in the Stephen King thriller ‘Misery.’ But it wasn’t until recently that she realized she had thanked her mother in her acceptance speech.
In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Bates told Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz that he sacrificed a lot to study to become an actor. But she also pointed out that despite being nominated for a Tony Award and winning an Academy Award for “‘Night, Mother,” her mother’s response to her success was less than merciful.
“When I won the Oscar for ‘Misery,’ she said, ‘I don’t know what’s so exciting. You haven’t discovered a cure for cancer,'” she told “Sunday Morning.”
Bates said he neglected to mention his mother in his acceptance speech, suggesting that this was probably a minor reason. “I forgot to thank her that night,” Bates said.
“You know, you did Mankiewicz thanked her at the end of his speech. “You thanked her.”
“No, I didn’t. I did. ~ no“Bates replied, “Go back and look. I didn’t do that.”
Mankiewicz played a recording of Bates’ acceptance speech at the 63rd Academy Awards on March 25, 1991.
As he watched the recording, Bates froze and looked at Mankiewicz in disbelief. Her hand came to her mouth as she was heard saying, “I want to say thank you to my family, my friends, my mom at home, and my dad who is watching from somewhere.”
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“Thank you! Why did you think I didn’t thank him?” said Bates after watching the video.
“Why does it mean so much to you?” asked Mankiewicz.
“Because she should have had my life,” Bates said. “I remember when she died I said, ‘Come inside me.’ I wanted her spirit to come into me and enjoy everything I had because of what she had given up.
“Wow! Thank you so much,” she added.
In addition to winning an Oscar for ‘Misery,’ Bates also directed films such as ‘Straight Time,’ ‘Dolores Claiborne,’ ‘Titanic,’ ‘Primary Colors,’ ‘About Schmidt,’ ‘Waterboy,’ and ‘Midnight in Paris.’ Appeared in a movie. ,” “Richard Jewell”, “Is There a God? I’m Margaret” and the TV series “American Horror Story.” Bates, now 76 and a two-time cancer survivor, recently proposed retiring from acting and, in an interview, spoke about how women of a certain age don’t stand out in society and on screen. But now she’s starring in CBS’ new series ‘Matlock’, where she embodies the concept of transparency.
“It’s fantastic. I think it’s one of the coolest roles I’ve ever had,” she said.
When asked if she had given up on her retirement plans, she declared, “I’m not retiring. I want to stay on this show as long as it continues, and I hope it continues for a very long time.”
